Retaining device for radiator caps



June 8, 1929. T. HILL RETAINING DEVICE FOR RADIATOR CAPS Original Filed April 5, 1922 FuE-sl.

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Patented .une 18, 1929.

UNITED STATES ymirati PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS HILL, OF NEW.YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE MOTO METER C0., INC., OF

LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW- YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK'.

RETAINING DEVICE FOR RADIATOR CAPS.

Application filed April 5, 1922, Serial No. 549,799. Renewed. Mayv3, 1928.

This invention relates to retaining devices for the radiator capsof automobiles, and is particularly useful in connection with caps which are equipped with emblems and ornamental devices and with instruments such as the motor heat indicating instrument now in common use on motoil vehicles. Radiator' caps, when so equipped, offer a temptation to the petty thief, and the general object of this invention is to provide a new and improved retaining device which is simple and rugged in construction, cheap to manufacture, easily applied, and which when applied will be efficient for the purpose for which it is intended.

In addition to certain novel features of construction, the invention is broadly characterized by the fact that after the device is installed the toggle member which is located within the radiator is secured at approximately right angles to a connecting means, thereby making it practically impossible for the toggle member to be tilted and removed from the radiator, after it has been installed.

The invention will be understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section of a ,preferred form of the invention attached to an instrument mounted on a radiator cap; Figure2 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the device in the process of being inserted into a radiator; Figure 3 is a plan view of the toggle member of the device shown in Figures l and 2; and Figure 4 is a cross-sectional elevation on the line IV--IV of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawing, the invention is shown as used in connection with a temperature indicating instrument of a well known form having a threaded stem 12 projecting thru a hole in a radiator cap 14. The instrument is secured to the radiator cap by a shell 16 which is threaded upon the stem 12 and engages a spring washer 18 interposed between the shell 16 and the inside of the cap 14. The shell 16 may be secured against rotation on the stem 12 by means of a set screw 19 preferably provided withy a socket of polygonal shape adapted to receive a wrench which is bent so as to extend within the flange of the cap 14. The stem 12 near its outer end is shown as reduced in diameter and provided with openings which permit the bulb 20 of the temperature indicating device to be affected by the temperature conditions withm the radiator, in a well known manner. The cap 14 is shown in threaded engagement with the end of a neck 22 projecting from the top of a radiator 24.

The shell 16 serves not only as -a nut on the instrument stem for holding the instru ment l() and the radiator cap 14 together, but also as a portion of an off-set swivel connec tion for attaching the retaining device to the instrument stem. As shown, the shell 16 isenlarged at its lower end and is provided with a circumferential groove adapted to receive a yoke which in connection with the shell 16 forms a swivel connection with the instrument stem. The ends 32 of the yoke 30 are preferably curved downwardly as shown and are perforated so as to receive a rivet pin 34. Inserted between the ends 32 of the yoke is the upper end of a connecting means in the form of a pendent bar 36, and the pin 34 passes thru a hole in the flattenedupper end of 'this bar, thereby pivotally connecting the latter to the yoke. The toggle member of the device may be of many kinds, and as shown is in the form of a channel cross-bar 40 which may be of sheet metal bent to the shape shown, this construction being both strong and light. The toggle member 40 is preferably provided with an elongated opening of the form best shown in Figure3, the straight portion 42 of which is only slightly greater than the diameter of the bar 36, while the end of the opening, at approximately the middle of the toggle member 404,

is in the form of a hole 44 having a diametersomewhat larger than the diameter of the bar 36. The bar 36 is preferably provided with a plurality of holes 46 into any one of which a pin 48 may be tightly driven, said pin being of such a lengththat it projects at each end slightly beyond the surface of the bar 36. Above the toggle member 40 is a sleeve 50 which is preferably split, as shown at 52 in Figure 2 and makes frictional engagement with the bar 36. Below the toggle member 40 is another sleeve 52 adapted to slide upon the bar 36 and to rest upon the pin 48. At its upper end, the sleeve 52 is preferably reduced as shown and arranged to enter the circular hole 44 at the end of the elongated opening in the toggle member 40.

In installing the retaining device, the internal length of the radiator neck 22 is measured and the pin 48 is inserted into that hole 46 which will give the proper effective length to the bar 36, care being taken to see that this length is merely sutiicient so that after the retaining device is installed the radiator cap and the instrument mounted thereon may be moved to one side -of the radiator neck 22, so as not to interfere with the filling of the radiator. With the sleeve 50 in the position shown inFigure 2, the toggle member Zl() may be moved longitudinally and angularly with reference to the rod 36 to the position shown, which facilitates the insertion of the toggle member downwardly7 through the radiator neck 22 into the top of the radiator. lVhile this inserting operation is taking place, care should be taken to retain hold of the shell 16, preferably by means of a string or wire. When the toggle member li0 has been lowered into the radiator into the position shown in Figure 2, it is an easy matter by means of a screwdriver or other tool to move the toggle member from the position shown in Figure 2 to the substantially horizontal position shown in Figure 1, and to slide t-he split shell 50 downwardly on the bar 36, until it engages the top of the toggle member 40 and clamps the latter into engagement with the shell 52, as best shown in Figure l. In this man ner, the toggle member 40 and the connecting means 36 are secured at substantially right angles to one another, thereby, as will be obvious, preventing withdrawal of the toggle member from the radiator as long as the parts are in this relation to one another. The shell 16 may now be lifted above the level of the top of the radiator neck 22, and the instrument stem l2, with the cap 14 and the washer 18, may be screwed into the shell, and secured in assembled relation by screwing in the set screw 19 provided for that purpose. The installation of the retaining device is now complete, and although the radiator cap 14 may be readily screwed on and off the radiator neck 22 in the usual manner, it will be extremely difficult to remove the radiator cap and the instrument entirely from the radiator. The difficulty of removal,"as will be obvious, is due to the fact that the socket of the set screw 19 can only be engaged by a special wrench adapted to reach within the flange of the radiator cap; and because if an attempt is made with pliers to pull the split shell 50 upwardly on the bar 36, the gripping of the pliers will cause the shell to more tightly engage the bar 36.

Therefore, while the removal from a radiator of a radiator cap and instrument combined with the retaining device may not be absolutely impossible, it is rendered so difficult as to frustrate the designs of a petty thief.

While I have shown one form in which my invention may be embodied, it is tovbe understood that in the appended claims I intend to cover not only this form but any others which embody the principles of my invention. y

What I claim is:

l. A retaining device for use with a radiator cap equipped with an instrument having a threaded stem projecting thru a hole in said cap, comprising an off-set swivel connection adapted to be attached to the instrument stem, connecting means pivotally attached to said swivel connection, a toggle member secured to said connecting means so as to permit angular relative movement of said toggle member andconnecting means during installation, and means for securing said toggle member and connecting means rigidly at right angles to one another after insertion of the toggle member in the radiator.

2. A retaining device for use with a radiator cap equipped with an instrument'having a threaded stem projecting thru a hole in said cap, comprising a cross-bar having an elongated opening therein, a pendent bar adapted to project thru said opening and movable therein so as to permit angular' and bodily movement of said pendent and cross bars dliiring installation, means for securing said cross-bar and pendent bar at right angles to one another after insertion of the cross-bar in a radiator, and means for attaching said pendent bar to an instrument stem.

3. A retaining device for use with a rad-iator cap equipped with an instrument having a threaded stem projecting thru a hole in said cap, comprising a toggle member having an elongated opening therein, a bar adapted to project thru said opening and movable therein so as to permit relative longitudinal and angular movements of said toggle member and said bar during installation, means for securing 'said toggle member nu and bar at right angles to one another and relatively stationary after insertion of said toggle member in a radiator, and means for attaching said bar to an instrument stem.

4. A retaining device for use with a radiator cap. equipped with an instrument having a threaded stem projectingV thru a hole in said cap, comprising a toggle member having an elongated opening therein, a bar adapted to project thru said opening and movable therein so as to permit relative longitudinal and angular movement of said toggle member and bar during installation, means cooperating with said bar for limiting the downward movement of the toggle member on the bar, means co-operating with said bar and said toggle member for securing said toggle member and bar at right angles to one another after insertion of the toggle member in a radiator, and means for attaching said bar to an instrument stem.

5. A retaining device for use with a radiator cap equipped with an instrument having a threaded stem projecting thru a hole in said cap, comprising a toggle member having an elongated opening therein, a bar adapted to project thru said opening and movable therein so as to permit relative longitudinal and angular movement of said toggle member and bar during installation, adjustable means Jfor limiting the downward movement of said toggle member on said bar, a split sleeve slidable on said bar above the toggle member and adapted to engage the top of said toggle member and hold the latter at right angles to said bar, and means for attaching said bar to an instrument stem.

V(S. A retaining device for use with a radiator cap, comprising a toggle member, connecting means to which the toggle member is secured so as to permit relative angular movement of said toggle member and connecting means during installation, means for securing said toggle member and connecting means in fixed angular relation with reference to one another after insertion of the toggle member in a radiator, and means Jfor attaching said connecting means to a cap.

7. A retaining device for use with a radiator cap equipped with an instrument having a threaded stem projecting thru a hole -in said cap, comprising a toggle member, connecting means to which the toggle member is secured so as to permit relative angular movement oi' said toggle member and con- .necting means during installation, means for securing said toggle member and connecting means against angular movement with reference to one another after insertion of the toggle member in a radiator and means for attaching said connecting means to an instrument stem.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature to this specification.

THOMAS I-IILL. 

